February 5, 2012 – Zephaniah 2:12 – 3

When I look at 3:7 I can’t help but think of the choices we have made as a nation and yet the fact is that we continue to push forward with the same ideas. This piece below is in regards to contraception, but the idea could be applied to our financial attitude, idea of obtaining material goods, etc. http://blog.adw.org/2012/02/understanding-oppostion-to-the-hhs-mandate-part-1-why-the-church-wont-pay-for-contraceptives/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=understanding-oppostion-to-the-hhs-mandate-part-1-why-the-church-wont-pay-for-contraceptives

The Promises of the Contraception Advocates:

1. Happier Marriages and a lower divorce rates since couples could have all the sex they wanted without “fear” of pregnancy.
2. Lower abortion rates since there would be far fewer “unwanted” children.
3. Greater dignity for women who will no longer be “bound” by their reproductive system.
4. More recently contraceptive advocates have touted the medical benefits of preventing STDs and AIDS especially by the use of condoms.

Paul VI in refuting these benefits made a few predictions of his own.

What were some of the concerns and predictions made by Pope Paul VI? (All of these are quotes from Humanae Vitae)

1. Consider how easily this course of action could open wide the way for marital infidelity (Humanae Vitae (HV) # 17)
2. A general lowering of moral standards. Not much experience is needed to be fully aware of human weakness and to understand that human beings—and especially the young, who are so exposed to temptation—need incentives to keep the moral law, and it is an evil thing to make it easy for them to break that law. (HV # 17)
3. Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection. (HV # 17)
4. Who will prevent public authorities from…impos[ing] their use on everyone. (HV # 17)